The property group Stockland has added an extra R to its so-called three R (residential, retail and retirement) strategy.
Just weeks after Stockland sought to quell investor unease by trimming the pay packet of its chief executive, Matthew Quinn, about 30 redundancy slips were handed out across the company yesterday.
Included in the cull, was Stockland's head of corporate affairs Karyn Munsie who was paid a cool $1.2 million in the 2011 financial year.
The redundancies follow the culling of up to 45 staff at the property group Dexus last week.
NAME GAME
Three fictitious Asian airlines recently conceptualised by Qantas have been given the all-clear to launch imaginary flights.
Despite Qantas chief executive Alan Joyce discontinuing talks with Malaysia Airlines in March over a proposed joint venture, the airline names RedQ, OneAsia and RedQ Executive Flyer have now been successfully trademarked in Australia.
Qantas is still waiting for its other name, RedSky, to be included on the IP Australia register. It is believed the new airlines will have much lower operating costs than even Jetstar.
The Flying Kangaroo could always launch the mock airline RedHerring the next time it does battle with its Australian unions and threatens to move more of its operations to Asia.
FIJI'S FRESH AIR
Air Pacific's chief executive, David Pflieger, seemed to have a less complicated job renaming his partly Qantas-owned airline.
Yesterday, the American said it was a straightforward decision to rename the airline "Fiji Airways", although he did toss up potential monikers such as "Fiji Air" and "Fiji Airlines".
"This dovetails perfectly with the history of the company, and becoming the national airline of Fiji," he said from Suva. "We wanted the country's name in the airline."
He pointed out "Fiji" was already emblazoned in smaller writing on the tails and noses of the airline's planes. "It has been trying to become Fiji's national airline, now we are just saying, 'let's do it'."
NO CHEER FOR AGL
It seems at least 200 wine quaffers are bracing for a colder-than-usual winter. The action group leading the fight against AGL Energy's plans to explore for coal seam gas in the Hunter region has tabled a survey, where more than 80 per cent of 335 respondents said they opposed gas wells being drilled in the area.
The survey conducted by Hunter Valley Wine Country Tourism and the Hunter Valley Wine Industry Association found 63 per cent of the people who visited the Hunter Valley Tourist Information Centre over two weekends last month would consider boycotting AGL if it pushed ahead with its coal seam gas drilling plans in the area.
"Viticulture and tourism are the lifeblood of this region and the visitors have spoken," said the executive manager of Hunter Valley Wine Country Tourism, Dean Goddard, in a statement.
The next explosive encounter is expected to occur on May 24, when AGL holds a community meeting at one of its properties in the Hunter. "Make sure that date's in your diary to go and grill AGL as to its intentions," said a recent flyer from the Hunter Valley Protection Alliance. The alliance, which is backed by several key winemakers in the area including Brian McGuigan, Max Drayton, Jay Tulloch and Bruce Tyrrell, claims the details of the meeting were buried on the AGL website.
"When were they going to let us know?" said the flyer. "Or do they just tick the community consultation box saying, 'We had a drop-in session and nobody turned up!'."
KATTER TAXI TEST
Should be interesting to see whether passengers riding in the front or back seat of taxis could become a key issue ahead of the next federal election.
The North Queensland federal MP and founder of the Australian Party, Bob Katter, has put the issue front and centre in the debate over which direction the country should be heading.
"A defining characteristic [is that] we drive in the front of the taxi and every other country in the world they drive in the back," Katter said, describing the typical Australian in a promo of his new book which goes on sale today.
"Now that's becoming less true in Australia," he lamented. Katter said he hoped his book An Incredible Race of People would have readers laughing and "wiping tears" away.
Got a tip? srochfort@fairfax.com.au
Frequently Asked Questions about this Article…
What triggered the recent redundancies at Stockland and how many roles were affected?
Stockland handed out about 30 redundancy slips as part of a shake-up to its traditional 'three R' strategy (residential, retail and retirement) — the article says the cuts came weeks after the company trimmed the pay packet of CEO Matthew Quinn in an effort to quell investor unease.
Which senior Stockland executive was made redundant and what was their reported pay?
The article names Karyn Munsie, Stockland's head of corporate affairs, as one of those made redundant. It reports she was paid about $1.2 million in the 2011 financial year.
How should everyday investors interpret Stockland’s redundancies and executive pay cuts?
The article frames the moves as efforts to address investor unease — cutting executive pay and reducing staff can signal cost control and restructuring. Investors should watch Stockland’s official announcements and upcoming financial updates for clearer guidance on any earnings or strategy impact.
Were other property groups also cutting staff recently?
Yes. The article notes that Dexus, another property group, culled up to 45 staff the week before Stockland's redundancies.
What trademark activity did Qantas undertake and why might this matter to investors?
Qantas successfully trademarked three conceptual Asian airline names in Australia — RedQ, OneAsia and RedQ Executive Flyer — while RedSky was still pending registration. The article mentions these mock or lower-cost airline ideas are believed to have operating costs lower than Jetstar, which may be relevant for investors watching Qantas’ low‑cost strategy and competitive positioning.
What rebranding did Air Pacific announce and what rationale was given?
Air Pacific’s chief executive David Pflieger said the airline would be renamed 'Fiji Airways.' He explained the change aligns the carrier with the nation’s identity and that 'Fiji' was already visible on the airline’s planes, so the rebrand reinforces its aim to be the national airline of Fiji.
What community opposition is AGL Energy facing over coal‑seam gas exploration in the Hunter region?
A survey cited in the article found more than 80% of 335 respondents opposed gas wells in the Hunter, and 63% of visitors to the Hunter Valley Tourist Information Centre said they would consider boycotting AGL if it pushed ahead. Local groups including the Hunter Valley Protection Alliance and several winemakers are leading the opposition.
When is the AGL community meeting and why should investors pay attention?
AGL is scheduled to hold a community meeting on May 24 at one of its Hunter properties. The article describes the meeting as potentially 'explosive' — investors monitoring AGL should watch community relations and potential local backlash, which can affect project timelines, reputation and regional social licence to operate.
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